Note to readers: This is the first in a series of articles on mental health issues to be published in upcoming Record Searchlight Health sections.

Each year in the United States 1 in 4 adults — almost 58 million Americans — experiences a mental health disorder and 6 percent, or 1 in 17, suffer from its severest forms, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Known also as mental health problems and mental illness, these disorders disrupt an individual's thinking, feeling, mood and functional state of being.

In Shasta County last year, 1,033 adults and 842 youths received unduplicated monthly services from the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency.

"These numbers generally represent a small proportion of people in our community living with mental illness because we serve only the most severely and persistently mentally ill and those who experience a psychiatric crisis," said Marta McKenzie, director of Shasta County HHSA. "Many who avoid treatment do so because of the stigma associated with mental illness."

The U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health reveals almost two-thirds of people with diagnosable disorders do not seek treatment in part because of the associated stigma. The same report indicates these concerns are heightened in smaller towns and rural communities.

Mental Disorders and the Mind/Body Split

Stigma persists, in part, because of the prevailing cultural belief that mind and body are separate and that illnesses involving thought, mood or behavior are somehow less valid than those involving the body.

This false belief in the mind/body split is supported by a finding in the Surgeon General's Report that consumers generally rank insurance coverage for the treatment of somatic disorders as a higher priority than coverage for the treatment of mental disorders.

"It's not possible to divide physical from mental illness," said Melinda Adams, a licensed clinical social worker in Shasta County. "ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder — a lot of these illnesses are physical. It has to do with how the brain is structured and with inter-generational stress. Anxiety in childhood, for example, can cause permanent brain changes that can later cause adult anxiety and depression."

Funding of Mental Health Services

Despite the number of people affected by a mental disorder, the heavy emotional and financial burdens these disorders exact on affected individuals, their families and society, funding is inadequate to meet current needs.

"If you compare funding for heart disease or lung disease, even leukemia, with funding for mental health disorders, the number of people who are affected by that funding is grossly disproportionate," said Eduardo Vega, executive director of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. "Given the impact mental health has on productivity and on the workforce we would expect there would be much higher levels of support and attention to it."

Such an expectation is thwarted by the facts: Between 2009 and 2012, California, the most populous state in the nation, cut $764.8 million from its mental health services budget, ranking it among the top 10 states by percentage of cuts, says a 2011 report from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Stigma and the False Perception of Violence

"The source of a lot of stigma is this false connection between violence and mental illness," said McKenzie of Shasta County HHSA. "Because of stigma, many people who live with mental illness — and have productive, peaceful lives — shy away from sharing their diagnosis and story. This perpetuates the misconception."

Vega of the San Francisco Mental Health Association added, "The research is pretty conclusive that when you factor out drug addiction and intoxication, those with mental disorders are no more violent than the general population." He further asserts more people with mental disorders are affected by violence than are violent themselves.

Shasta County Stigma Reduction Efforts

Mark Dadigan, community education specialist and coordinator of the Brave Faces Portrait Gallery for Shasta County HHSA's Stand Against Stigma Campaign, said a photographer friend who takes free portraits for low-income individuals inspired the gallery idea.

"It was so humanizing," Dadigan said. "You sensed there were more layers to them, that there was more to their story. I thought it would be a good way to deal with stigma around mental disorders."

The Brave Faces, individuals affected by a mental disorder, agreed to be photographed and allowed Dadigan to record their oral history for the exhibit. Some speak at public awareness events as part of their own recovery and to help educate others on living with a mental disorder.

"The best way to reduce stigma and prejudice is to meet and interact with someone who has a mental illness," Dadigan said. "I think when people meet the Brave Faces they add a face, heart, body and whole history to the stick figure image they may have in their mind of a person with mental illness."

Myth: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses.

Fact: Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for brain disorders.

Myth: People are born with mental illness.

Fact: Vulnerability to some illnesses, such as bipolar mood disorder, can run in families but people without family history also develop mental illness.

Myth: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting or weakness of character.

Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with psychological and social risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder.

Myth: People with a severe mental illness are usually dangerous and violent.

Fact: Statistics show violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.

Myth: Mental illness is incurable and lifelong.

Fact: Studies show most people get better and many recover completely when treated early and appropriately. Others may have a recurring disorder requiring ongoing treatment. Medications help manage symptoms of illness, but a pill is not a cure-all for everyone. Therapy can help individuals identify factors that contribute to their illness and learn skills to manage symptoms.

Myth: You can tell if a person has a mental illness.

Fact: There are many signs and symptoms of a mental disorder but quick judgments and stereotypes do not replace accurate diagnosis by a mental health professional.

Myth: People with mental health disorders, even those who have received treatment and recovered, tend to be second-rate workers on the job.

Fact: Employers report and studies show no differences in productivity when people with mental illnesses are compared to other employees.

Myth: Mental illness won't affect me personally.

Fact: Everyone is vulnerable to mental health problems. They affect almost every family in America and many people know someone with a mental illness and don't even realize it.